Letter: Clean Power Plan takes real action

To the editor

Published 6:44 pm, Thursday, August 13, 2015

Safely air-conditioned out of the scorching heat of the Rose Garden, President Barack Obama signed a series of tougher climate regulations that have a chance of reducing emissions ("Plants face steep cuts," Aug. 3). Flawed as it is, the Clean Power Plan represents real action to curb the climate crisis, and we should celebrate and endorse it.

Most of your readers have had enough exposure to our changing climate and its accompanying effects to realize we are rapidly approaching a crisis. And it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that spewing carbon at the rate we have has helped to precipitate that crisis.

Clearly, cutting down on carbon in the atmosphere is the most prudent next step in reaction to the current situation. By signing these regulations, the president is taking an important step toward reining in air, water and carbon polluters and improving the lives of all Americans.

So, kudos to the president. May these regulations survive to become a bright spot in his legacy. Now, we need to remind Gov. Andrew Cuomo to stop bailing out our state's dirty coal plants.